KCHS cagers hampered by flooded gym

Kenai Central High School basketball teams will play away from home for at least three weeks after a pipe burst and caused flooding in the school's gymnasium over winter break.

Stacia Rustad, the school's athletic director and varsity girls basketball coach, said the water caused damage to the gym floor as well as the main office, adjacent hallways and the concessions area. The damage was discovered by a junior varsity squad during practice over the holiday break Dec. 27.

"As a basketball coach I want to be in my home gym, but it is what it is," Rustad said. "We have to make the best of an ugly situation."

The Kardinals will play home games at Kenai Middle School through Jan. 29, but some previously scheduled home contests have been moved to road venues. Saturday's junior varsity and varsity home games against Homer will now be played in Homer, while a junior varsity tournament scheduled for Jan. 29 has been moved to Cook Inlet Academy. The C-Team will play home games at the Kenai Recreation Center.

Rustad said the schedule could be affected in February as well.

"We hope not," she said. "Is it a possibility? Absolutely. We are going to hope for the best-case scenario."